What Convinced You To Change?

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  • m5parr
    m5parr Posts: 21
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    I was definitely in denial for a long time too! Two years after having my last baby, I hit the same weight that I was at the *end* of my pregnancy. Something clicked at that point lol. I swore to myself a long time ago that I'd never let myself go after having kids, and seeing that number on the scale made me realize I broke my promise to myself.
  • lpherman01
    lpherman01 Posts: 212 Member
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    What inspired you to finally start eating healthy, eating less, working out, etc?

    Had you been trying for years to commit, and finally, something simply clicked?

    Was it hitting a new highest weight? Getting some bad news from your doctor?

    What convinced you to make a change?
    I was never overly heavy, usually went between 205 & 220 and at 6'1" carried it well. 2 bad summers (herniated disk in 04 and Lyme Disease in 05) pushed my weigh to 260, and ended my cycling. I started riding again in 08, but never could get much below 250 until my youngest son showed me MFP. Well it just clicked, and combined with a good summer of riding, plus the ability to really eat properly, I dropped 60 pounds last year and the weight is staying off. I get all the motivation that I need to stay on the program whenever I get on the bike.
  • stephaniemejia1671
    stephaniemejia1671 Posts: 482 Member
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    Put a pair of jeans on and saw the dreaded "muffin top" not cool.... started that day.
  • cdswicky
    cdswicky Posts: 43
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    That's awesome that your most recent blood test came back improved. The blood doesn't lie. Keep up the hard work, glad you're seeing results.
  • truly_crazy_me
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    My convincing to change was actually largely on my Grandpa. He was very important to me and we were very close. I lost him to an obesity related disease January 1st of 2012 and right then I knew I needed to change.
  • cinrn68
    cinrn68 Posts: 215 Member
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    Just before the new year, my husband made a passing comment one night in conversation about how junk food just didn't do anything for him. It was such a small statement, but it got me thinking -- what did it really DO for me?? I would look forward to my little "binges" (chips & dip, a plate of nachos, etc.) while watching my favorite tv programs. All of it was usually accompanied by a glass of wine or 2 or a beer. Was it REALLY "doing" anything for me? Yes. Packing on the pounds and potentially giving me a lot of future health issues. It clicked. I didn't NEED it. I decided to stop it all and adopt a healthier attitude. We were already eating fairly healthy foods to begin with, but I became much more conscious of processed foods and incorporating more fruits/veggies into our daily routine. And for me, the eating healthy and exercise go hand-in-hand, so I started back on the treadmill. Instead of sitting down with a "snack" to watch tv in the evening, I walk on the treadmill. It's amazing how far you can go and how many calories you can burn while watching mindless tv!! LOL

    I guess I had my "lightbulb" moment and am so happy I did. I've done Weight Watchers in the past, and had successfully lost 40 lbs, only to gain it all back over the last 3 years when I just stopped doing it and going back to my old habits. This time it's for life -- I have vowed to myself since it wasn't really "doing" anything for me in the first place! :)
  • Kauaiartist
    Kauaiartist Posts: 86 Member
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    Feeling pretty down about being overweight - hated having to have pictures taken - didn't like to see myself in the mirror from the neck down - then had a doctor's appointment - stepped on the scale and was shocked and when my doctor went over my blood test and told me that my cholesterol was creeping upward (over the past 2 years tests) and that I did have the option of being on statins - or first I could try and lose some weight and see what kind of affect that would have on my cholesterol in a few months time - I decided I was DONE with feeling bad about my body image - was not going into the next phase of my life always "struggling" with my weight - I would get it under control once and for all - and found MFP Jan. 2012 - and here it is day 65 and I'm at least 12 pounds lighter and several inches smaller due to exercising 5 to 6 days a week and following a healthy diet plan! Cheers!
  • sed1217
    sed1217 Posts: 228 Member
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    My lightest (recent) weight was 2006 - 145 pounds. By 2010, I was 283 pounds (my heaviest). Stress and depression and dumb choices led me to put on another *person*. On Jan 1, I started in earnest to lose the weight and hopefully have a baby. Then, in February, I was diagnosed with MS. So now I'm losing for future baby and me. I can honestly say that exercise has never felt so good as it does now. Every step is a victory.
  • XtyAnn17
    XtyAnn17 Posts: 632 Member
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    Been trying for years and it just finally clicked. I was tired of being left out of life and opportunity because of my weight. I want to go back to work and not have my body hurt.
  • MrsGonsalves16
    MrsGonsalves16 Posts: 18 Member
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    When I realised my son was missing out on opportunities because I had no confidence to take him places in case I would be judged, very selfish of me but along with deciding to lose weight I have decided to forget about myself and think about my son!! Still have a long way to go but the more pounds I lose the more confidence I gain!! And that's enough to make me wanna do this till I've reached my goal weight and stay at that weight! ( I take my son out as much as possible now and burn off loads of calories too)
  • malyndad
    malyndad Posts: 30 Member
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    I have fought obesity for my whole life. I got over 300 lbs while in an abusive relationship but lost 100 lbs after I left. I got caught back up in the same cycle of abuse and gained most of it back, left that relationship and lost about 25 lbs. Now I'm in a healthy relationship, but not a healthy situation. In 2 years I went from no health problems to a doctor telling me he was going to put me on insulin. I am fighting for my life now. I will not give up! I have a wonderful partner, a loving son, a beautiful daughter by love and an amazing granddaughter. I refuse to fail this time.
  • cdswicky
    cdswicky Posts: 43
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    You can do it! Just stay positive. I think you are so strong for leaving the abusive relationship and very blessed to have finally found someone worthy of you.

    CONGRATS!
  • Synapze
    Synapze Posts: 499
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    I've tried before. Went from 135kg to 82kg in a very few months lifting weights and crash dieting a few years back, but fell sick with a lung infection, hospitalized, then back up to 117kg over the next few years.

    Late last year I planned to begin a new lifestyle again, but wanted to try a new approach.

    I knew from so many past attempts that eating Carrots and drinking Water doesn't work in the long run.

    I learned killing myself with excercise i hate doesnt work.

    What i had learned is doing it so slow i hardly even realized i was doing anything at all was the approch i needed.

    So in December last year i got onto Google. Researched everything. WW, Atkins, Shakes, Pills, you name it, looked into it all.

    Then I found the MFP app..and honestly thought it must have been just another gimmick because it was free, but decided to give it a go.

    Researched the hell out of it. Found out about Calorie Deficit, and smashed my head on the table as i couldn't believe in 36 years i hadn't come across this.

    Thats it. Still here and its proving the most simple approach is the right one.